News Release Archive

Bureau Of Reclamation Announces the Initial Water Allocation For Water Year 2005

Media Contact: Jeffrey McCracken, 916-978-5100, 02/15/2005 16:58

For Release: February 15, 2005

Reclamation today announced its initial Water Year 2005 allocation for the Federal Central Valley Project (CVP). Reclamation prepared two forecasts: one for dry conditions (90-percent exceedence) and one for below-normal conditions (50-percent exceedence). In the dry forecast, the water year inflow into Shasta Reservoir is about 4.0 million acre-feet (the Shasta inflow is a criteria for imposing shortages to settlement contractors and refuges). This initial water allocation is based on February 1, 2005, water runoff information prepared by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR).

Reclamation traditionally expresses the allocation as a percentage (see summary table) of the contract total for each of the contract categories. Allocations are also compared to the recent historic 5-year average of the final forecasts.

Mid-Pacific Region
Initial Water Year 2005 Water Allocation
February 15, 2005

Probability of Exceedence Forecasts

Percent of Historical Average Sacramento Valley Index & Year Type

North of Delta
Allocation

South of Delta
Allocation

Ag

M&I

R

WR

Ag

M&I

R

WR

50%

87%
Below Normal

100

100

100

100

65

90

100

100

90%

69%
Dry

65

90

100

100

65

90

100

100

Recent Historical Average
(5-Year Average Allocation)

92

97

100

100

66

91

100

100

Municipal and Industrial Allocations are based on historical deliveries.

Trinity River - Record Of Decision

Forecast Exceedence/Year Type

Water Supply

90% Dry

453,000 Acre-feet

50% Normal

647,000 Acre-feet

Decisions on the allocations are made based on the following:

  • Meeting Water Rights Decision 1641 standards set by the State Water Resources Control Board
  • Meeting water supply and water rights contracts and settlement agreements
  • Satisfying Endangered Species Act requirements
  • Implementing Section 3406(b)(2) of the Central Valley Project Improvement Act
  • Implementing the CALFED Record of Decision (ROD)
  • Implementing the Trinity River Mainstem Restoration ROD
  • Joint Points of Diversion and increased integration with State Water Project operations
Factors and conditions that will influence the allocations as the year progresses include:

  • Changes to hydrology
  • Opportunities to exercise operational flexibility of the project

Reclamation is looking at actions in cooperation with other State and Federal agencies to improve south-of-the-Delta allocations. Reclamation intends to focus efforts in the coming months to address the long-term challenges of balancing the need to export to south-of-the-Delta contractors and provide environmental protection and restoration. Reclamation and the other agencies remain committed to working closely to resolve both short-term and long-term water reliability and operational flexibility issues.

At this time, the CVP Cross Valley Canal Contractors will receive a 65% water supply allocation. This water supply is dependent upon adequate capacity being available at the State Water Project Banks Pumping Plant to convey the water.

In the 90-percent exceedence forecast, the allocation for CVP Eastside Division contractors (Stanislaus River) is projected to be about 2,000 acre-feet. In the 50-percent exceedence forecast, the allocation is projected to be approximately 41,000 acre-feet.

The Friant Division deliveries for Water Year 2005 are projected to be 1,290,000 acre-feet, or 86 percent of the historic water supply of 1.5 million acre-feet. The preliminary allocation for Friant Division contractors will be 100 percent of Class 1 water and 35 percent of Class 2 water. The projected Friant Division delivery of 1,290,000 acre-feet is based on the DWR 90 percent exceedence forecast. Through February 10, 2005, precipitation in the San Joaquin River watershed was 34.57 inches compared to 18.91 inches this time last year.

Throughout the precipitation season, updated information will be provided as conditions warrant. To receive the latest forecast on CVP operations, contact Paul Fujitani at 916-979-2197. In the coming months, additional information will be posted on the Mid-Pacific Region's Web site at www.usbr.gov/mp/.

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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.

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Bureau Of Reclamation Announces the Initial Water Allocation For Water Year 2005